Title: One.. Two… Part 2 of 20

Author: Michael Dunbar

Summary: Do I have to do all the work.. Figure it out yourself… 

"Um… You know, Buffy, Uh.. the spring fling is a… time for students to gather and.. oh god.. Buffy I want you to go to the dance with me.. You, me on a date.."

Xander closed his eyes and breathed deeply, hyperventilation was a possibility at this point. He tried looking anywhere but at her, it wasn't as difficult as it sounded. The squirrel climbing the tree was taking up his attention at this point. Anything to take his mind off the rejection he knew was coming.

"Oh.."

He was hoping for a little more than that, maybe a "hell yea" or a "screw you buddy", anything but that. He looked her in the eyes and she actually seemed to be smiling slightly, maybe she thought it was a joke.

He was Xander stupid joke guy.

"What took you so long…"

Now that one came out of left field, he started looking around for anything resembling a camera or anything resembling a forthcoming apocalypse. If the apocalypse did come it couldn't be at a better time. The hell mouth had to be at work for a girl to say anything like that to him, especially one as great as Buffy.

"Huh…" He sputtered

"Willow told me you were going to ask, not very best friendy but she gave me the heads up and I can't say I don't like the idea. She's all over that new guy at the moment, say's he's a genius or something.. She was all for us to give it a try and seeing as I'm sans guy I'm thinking why not.."

"Huh…" He sputtered again, then "Martin.. the new guy.. right.. good guy.. lots of books.."

Buffy just smiled at him then reached for his hand and he blushed as she took it and held it tight.

"I'd be glad to go with you to the spring fling…"

He was going to try for a coherent sentence this time, something that didn't involve the word "Huh", if that is even a word. He would ask Willow later, she'd know and probably chastise him for not.

"Eeep…"

Way to make with the syllables.

"You know I hope your going to be more entertaining on the date because I'm high maintenance.. Require lots of attention."

"Yea.. I'll be funny and everything"

Yes he managed a sentence. Score one for the big guy.

"Oh I'm sure you will… Can't be anything but huh"

Xander was about to reply but the bell echoed through the quad and students started wandering off in all directions. Buffy still held his hand and he squeezed it softly before grinning stupidly at her.

"Wow.. I guess dreams do come true.. and yes I do now realize I said that out loud and apologize whole heartedly.."

Buffy's laughter was like music to his ears and caused him to grin wider if it was possible, maybe things would be okay after all.

"A girl loves compliments.. I'll be requiring loads and loads.."

"And I'll be all too happy to oblige a lady.." Xander replied with a smile "I hate to be the one to say this and I'll probably kick myself later but I guess we should get to class… Although sitting here all day holding your hand sounds much better.."

"Yea.. I guess we should head to class"

Buffy turned her head to look around slightly and then leaned in and gently touched her lips to his for a simple peck of the lips before drawing back with a crimson blush adorning her cheeks.

"Maybe we can talk about it tonight, at the bronze. Just me and you.. Willow is going to be a study buddy with Martin"

Xander nodded his head dumbly with a smile still lingering on his lips.

"Great, you can pick me up at 7… "

With that last statement she was up and gone and Xander sat there quietly for a moment then brought his hand up to his lips and touched them gently.

"Wow…"

The day edged forward at a snails pace but Xander smiled the whole way through it, even Cordelia's insults didn't phase his mood as he walked through the day. Which got on her nerves more than any reply could have.

By the time the last bell rang he was sitting on cloud nine with angels playing instruments all around him. This day could quite possibly be the best day of his young life; it beat down the day he got his Spiderman comic signed by Stan Lee that's for sure. He walked home slowly trying to listen to Willow's ramblings about the new guy but failing miserable as he just nodded his head at the end of each sentence.

"Then we both ripped off our clothes and had wild carnal sex… right in front of the class…"

HUH!

Willow was blushing but grinning nonetheless as he cocked his head to the side and looked at her with wide eyes.

"Knew that would get your attention. So happy are we today? Has it got something to do with a certain blonde haired slayer.. I think she should remain nameless."

"Yea Will.. Happy as can be, meeting at the bronze tonight infact…"

They stopped in front of Willow's mailbox and she grinned at him.

"Congrats Xan, see I knew you had nothing to worry about.."

She walked idly down the path towards her front door before Xander's shout made her turn.

"Will.. You're the best.."

He stuck two thumbs up and grinned at her and she giggled as she opened her door and went inside. Xander walked to his house a few blocks east of Willows and clambered up the stairs to get ready for the "Talking about the date.. date". He threw his bag into a corner and leaped onto his bed before hugging his pillow and looking to see his alarm clock.

4:36..

"I'll have to get ready soon…"

The next thing Xander knew he found himself outside, the wind was blowing a gale and he looked around idly. It was Sunnydale and it was dark, he reached into his pocket for a stake but found a piece of salami instead.

"Now.. This is just weird.."

"Now you know how I feel…"

Xander swung around to see the guy from all his nightmares looking at him as he leaned on a lamppost an evil gleam in his eyes as he stroked his claws on a nearby fence.

"Nothing is as it seems here.. Except death.. You die here.. You die there.. You die everywhere… Fresh meat…"

A blur of red and green stripes swept in front of him and he grabbed at the hand holding him by the throat in the air. He tried to breath through his nose to no avail and couldn't break the grip on his larynx no matter what he tried.

"What.. do you want.." Xander sputtered out.

"I want to see your innards smeared all over my lovely gloves…"

And with that sentence finished all Xander could do was scream.